Anger Management and Traumatic Brain Injury

The Partnership Counseling Center

What is Anger?

Natural and common emotion

Secondary emotion which must be triggered by a primary emotion

Anger and Brain Injury

Difficulty handling anger is one of the most common problems for survivors of brain injury. Several reasons for this are:

Increased frustration and irritability Grief Increased pain Distractibility Depression Lack of work, leisure activity, sex and/or sleep

Medical Research

Tolerance of frustration and controlling emotion is often affected after brain injury. The injury itself might affect the parts of the brain that are to do with tolerance and control (limbic system in the brain stem and the frontal areas). The frontal lobes are particularly involved in controlling emotions.

Common Stimulation Factors of Anger for Survivors of TBI

High noise or activity level Unexpected events Lack of structure

Common Personal Factors of Anger for Survivors of TBI

Frustration Fear or anxiety Embarrassment, shame or guilt Discovery or confrontation of problems Cognitive impairments Communication impairments Rigid thinking

Common Medical Factors of Anger for Survivors of TBI

Pain Fatigue Low blood sugar Medications Alcohol and/or drugs

Anger Warning Signs Loud, high voice Cursing Name Calling Threats Making fists Breaking things Threatening people Bulging eyes

Tense muscles Sweating Flushed face Fast breathing Confusion Feelings of fear Feelings of shame Feelings of frustration

Steps to Managing Anger

Become motivated Self-awareness Awareness of situations Levels of anger and coping strategies Develop an anger management record

Other Helpful Tools to Manage Anger

Practice stress reduction/relaxation techniques Take care of yourself Develop social outlets

Techniques for Expressing Anger Constructively

Identify the source of anger Did you perceive the problem accurately? If possible, rehearse your strategy beforehand Choose the right time and place Avoid exaggeration Stick to the issue Focus on the incident itself, rather than a

personal attack Be ready to make concessions

Coping with Severe Anger Plan for ways to become distracted from a

stressful situation Explain to another person how they can be of

help to solve the problem Leave the situation, if possible Phone a friend, lifeline or crisis center Avoid situations where there is high risk of

becoming angry Explore the benefits of medication with a

practitioner or psychiatrist

References http://braininjury.org.au/portal/fact-

sheets/anger-and-brain-injury---fact-sheet.html http://www.biawa.org/pax/behavior/Anger%20M

anagement.doc http://www.headinjury.com/anger.htm http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?ty

pe=doc&id=5814&cn=116